Waterhouse Football Club again demonstrated why they are among the frontrunners to challenge for this season’s Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) title, when they outclassed the promoted Treasure Beach FC 4-1 in a lopsided encounter at Stadium East on Monday.
Andre Fletcher rekindled his goalscoring form with a brace in the 24th and 82nd minutes, while Javane Bryan (32nd) and substitute Rondee Smith (90+2) got the others. Lorenzo Lewin (42nd) got the consolation for Treasure Beach, who ended with 10 players after Ramario Thompson picked up a second yellow in the 54th minute.
With the win, Waterhouse moved up to fourth position on 15 points, a mere four points off reigning champions and leaders Mount Pleasant on 19 points. Treasure Beach continues to find life in the nation's top-flight tough, as they sit 12th on the 14-team standing with seven points.
Waterhouse's assistant coach Damion Gordon, welcomed the performance, which he hailed as a testament of the players character, as he hinted and behind-the-scene challenges that have thwarted their progress at times.
"It shows a strong mentality; we did well to take our chances when they came and overall, it was a good team performance. We are growing, we've had our challenges and setbacks, but we are rising above them, and we will remain strong, so I believe some positive results are ahead of us," Gordon said in a post-match interview.
Though Waterhouse started favourites to take all the points, the Drewsland-based team's inconsistent run of three wins, three draws and three losses was such that it many weren't sure what to expect against their St Elizabeth opponents.
And they had an early scare which justified that much, as newly installed goalkeeper John Wilson toyed around with the ball and was rushed by a Treasure Beach attacker, who almost deflected the inevitable clearance into the net.
However, Waterhouse settled soon after and gradually gained the ascendancy in a good passage of play, but their hunt to break the deadlock proved fruitless at that point.
The go-ahead goal inevitably came when Nickoy Christian's well-timed pass sent Fletcher on his way, and the player sporting the number 15 jersey drove a right-footer past Carlye Holmes in goal for Treasure Beach.
Bryan doubled the lead eight minutes later with a cool, calm and collected finish from deep inside the 18-yard box his seventh of the season.
Waterhouse should have had a third in the 40th, as Denardo Thomas was allowed a free header at the far post, but couldn't keep the effort down after he rose above defenders to meet Shemar Boothe's weighted cross.
That let-off offered Treasure Beach some semblance of hope, even moreso when Lewin got in behind defenders and lobbed a left-footed shot over Wilson, who had no chance at a save, to make it 2-1 at the break.
Both teams came out spiritedly on the resumption, but Treasure Beach threatened first through Lewin, who produced a tidy run down the left channel, but couldn't pick out a teammate in the final third.
Waterhouse responded immediately courtesy of Bryan, whose effort was charged down by a defender.
Despite the numerical disadvantage after Thompson took out Denardo Thomas from behind and was ejected, Treasure Beach held firm until the latter stages of the contest when Waterhouse again gathered momentum.
After having an earlier effort blocked, Flecther eventually completed his brace when he finished off a decent build-up orchestrated by substitute Revaldo Mitchell, who got by three defenders, and allowed Christian to provide another assist.
And minutes later, another substitute Leonardo Jibbison produced a darting run down the right channel and later picked out Rondee Smith, who fired home from the top of the 18-yard box to cap the win in time added.
Fitzroy Ambusley, assistant coach of Treasure Beach is confident that they will eventually find a momentum which will allow them to play another season of top-flight football.
"I would say unfortunate. We came here with the mindset to win but things didn't go our way. I thought the guys fought well even after we went down to 10 players, but it just wasn't our night. But we will continue to fight, and we will stay up (in the league)," he declared.
